Page 34 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q1

Bonsai Species Feature

Strength Black

&

Pine
Beauty

By Danilo Scursatone, Italy
Photos by Danilo Scursatone and Fabio Vigezzi
Translation by Danilo Scursatone and Joe Grande

he black pine (Pinus nigra) is a spe-
cies much loved and used in bonsai
art, especially in Japan. Often start-
ing material is sourced from Japan
Tfavoring the variety thumbergii, but
other varieties can be used also. The species
that are native or naturalized in Italy may be
suitable to shaping into bonsai without any
problems, keeping in mind that some sub-
species have a long needles and difficult to
reduce in length. The black pine is a species
that ranges from lowland habitats to high
altitudes up to about 2000 meters above sea
level and it is, precisely for this reason, that
its cultivation and maintenance are not very
difficult even in lowland areas, as long as
there is good air circulation.
Its bark presents with scales and fissures,
even on relatively young specimens, that
with the passage of time thickens and takes
on a very ancient look. The black pine also
has a very strong root system, useful as a
rootstock for the vigorous and fast-growing
Pinus pentaphylla that can be developed in
a few years. Black pine foliage is made up of
very sturdy, dark green needles that differ
from all other types of conifers.
All these features combine to create a spe-
cies with great beauty, especially its remark-
able life force that expresses strength and it would be appropriate to plan a bonsai Another difficulty is the reverse taper, a
power. of medium to large size to provide better potential defect for this species, especially
Creating a bonsai from a black pine presents balance between the foliage, trunk and when collecting from the wild. This is when
some difficulties that must be taken into ac- branches of our tree. We rarely see small- the diameter of the base of the tree at the
count. The first difficulty is that in nature, its size black pine bonsai (shohin bonsai). For soil level or nebari is smaller than the trunk
needles reach a length of 10–15 cm/4–5 in, small bonsai, choose a subspecies that has above it. Choosing starting material may be
which is often maintained even when grown short needles such as Pinus thumbergii “chi- difficult because it is not always possible to
in containers. Precisely for this reason tosemaru” or Pinus thumbergii “sunsho.” verify if the plant exhibits this problem.

32 | BCI | January/February/March 2014